Ms. Que Banh<p>Do you know who has a lot of credit when it comes to me learning to be more courageous about showing my flawed, imperfect self online, now?</p><p>It's due to a bunch elementary school children, at the now closed McTavish Elementary School in <a href="https://beige.party/tags/CentralSaanich" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>CentralSaanich</span></a>. I did my practicum there after obtaining my specialized teacher's assistant certifications. I worked with FASD, autistic, down syndrome &amp; physically disabled students there. They represented 30% of student population there.</p><p>I did an interactive cultural, racial &amp; disabilities bridging awareness program while there. Part of it was showcasing my life as a child war survivor &amp; how me &amp; my family survived war. The other part was showcasing how I was diagnosed with polio. How I was told I'd be living out of a wheelchair for my whole life. How I beat that diagnosis by sheer willpower &amp; suffering much physical pains while forcing my body to learn how to walk against all odds. How I'm in front of them, walking &amp; talking. I invited the kids to ask any questions they wanted &amp; advised staff/parental witnesses to not interrupt kids during Q&amp;A period. The kids asked amazing questions &amp; I answered all of them, openly &amp; honestly. I had a few parents &amp; teachers squirm when one kid asked to see &amp; touch my leg braces. I showed the kids both my leg braces &amp; told them it's OK to touch them &amp; ask me more questions.</p><p>This is how I bridge things &amp; create less fears of disabled peoples, from a young age. Most kids are more curious than outright judgemental. Most kids develop understanding of disabled people, if they're taught well.</p><p><a href="https://beige.party/tags/PeopleWithDisabilities" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>PeopleWithDisabilities</span></a> <a href="https://beige.party/tags/AntiAbleism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>AntiAbleism</span></a> <a href="https://beige.party/tags/DisabledAdvocacy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>DisabledAdvocacy</span></a></p>